Herbal tea helps inmates sleep easy

Prisoners are relying on herbal tea rather than sedatives to calm themselves down.

Wandsworth men's jail led the way four years ago, when the prisoners asked for herbal tea to soothe stress and sleeplessness.

The prison pharmacy introduced Dr Stuart's Botanical Teas and word spread. Now, the women inmates at Downview Prison in Surrey have also turned to herbal tea rather than prescribed drugs to help them sleep.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "They are so widely used by women in Downview jail that the tea bags have almost replaced sedatives as a way of helping the women sleep."